anyone notice theres no role playing hapening? [Archive] - Wizards Community

anyone notice theres no role playing hapening? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
hammer_man_Dan
02-22-05, 01:02 PM i have a problem with me and my fellow char's. we do not play in char we're all like well lets do this this and that then we say well kurzak goes and wacks on that little goblin over there.... and then for the next 5 minutes we discuss the move the tactical advantages of snuffing goblin <Bleeb> and moving this way and that. basically I am looking to get my fellow players to role play does anyone else have this problem and any sugestions? :allalone
Johnny3D3D
02-22-05, 01:58 PM My suggestion would to be for you to try to get the ball rolling. Take it upon yourself to roleplay your character. Maybe make time restrictions in battle? What I mean is this: if you were in a fight, more than likely, you're not going to be able to stand there and talk about it. I've seen a few posts relating to that topic in other places, but I can't remember exactly where. There are a lot of suggestions, and there's not really one single correct answer. It depends on your group, but, as I mentioned, I'd suggest starting to role your character. A lot of people are afraid to roleplay because they think the other players at the table will make fun of them; maybe if someone breaks the ice, the rest will feel more open about it.
JohnSnow
02-22-05, 07:00 PM This is a common problem that pops up. It tends to pop up more the more "tactically oriented" the game becomes. Fortunately, it's fixable.

Talk to the other players and your DM. See if everyone else is as frustrated with the situation as you are. If not, there are still a few things you can do, but it's a lot harder. If so, there are plenty of options to restore the roleplaying to your tactical gaming.

If the group as a whole is fine with the way things are, you need to lead the way. This is the lowest maintenance solution, but it can be one of the most effective. For example, rather than saying "Kurzan goes and wacks on that little goblin over there" try this instead:

"I unlimber my axe and advance on the small goblin, 'Die villain!' I shout!" (roll dice...call result to DM, who says "hit" or "miss" - DM's job is to say "your axe bites into the goblin, spraying his blood across the cave floor." If he doesn't, you should do it.) After a while, everyone will start calling out their actions. A creative DM trying to encourage this might even bump damage up a point or two for a vivid enough description of the wound.

The DM has more control over this than any player, so if you can get him on your side, the tenor of the game will change. Try describing things "in character" and explaining the rules involved with "asides" to the DM. Eventually, everyone will start to associate "I swing my waraxe with all my might" with Power Attack, and the asides will be less necessary.

One thing that can help is to try a rules-lite version of D&D for a session or two. Specifically, you forget all about tactical positioning and movement related attacks of opportunity for a session and just PLAY! You might miss a few attacks of opportunity (you can still include the easy ones - backing out of combat, casting spells or using ranged weapons in melee or anything else that "distracts you"), but everyone will be having fun.

Once you get used to that version, you can add tactical movement back in again. But everyone will be used to roleplaying sessions at that point, and they won't be likely to disappear.

My two coppers.
dragonsbane1970
02-23-05, 03:00 AM Ditto above - But I've found that alot of time the players are not "seeing" the game so are not "in" the game. At the beginning of every game I ask each player to describe something or someone in the beginning scene such as - Player 1 will describe the interior of the tavern including smell, condition etc./ Player 2 will describe the bard on stage including what he/she is singing / Player 3 will describe the bar wench and give a description of the food offered etc....
I will keep this going until I feel they are "seeing" and feeling the tavern or whatever and are "in" the game.
It helps focus your players and stop out of game yapping.
dragonsbane1970
02-23-05, 03:03 AM Something else that helped me focus my group was going through entire sessions with no combat at all. Basically forcing my players to role play every scene. They learned a great deal about their characters and loved it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
hammer_man_Dan 02-22-05, 01:02 PM	i have a problem with me and my fellow char's. we do not play in char we're all like well lets do this this and that then we say well kurzak goes and wacks on that little goblin over there.... and then for the next 5 minutes we discuss the move the tactical advantages of snuffing goblin <Bleeb> and moving this way and that. basically I am looking to get my fellow players to role play does anyone else have this problem and any sugestions? :allalone
Johnny3D3D 02-22-05, 01:58 PM	My suggestion would to be for you to try to get the ball rolling. Take it upon yourself to roleplay your character. Maybe make time restrictions in battle? What I mean is this: if you were in a fight, more than likely, you're not going to be able to stand there and talk about it. I've seen a few posts relating to that topic in other places, but I can't remember exactly where. There are a lot of suggestions, and there's not really one single correct answer. It depends on your group, but, as I mentioned, I'd suggest starting to role your character. A lot of people are afraid to roleplay because they think the other players at the table will make fun of them; maybe if someone breaks the ice, the rest will feel more open about it.
JohnSnow 02-22-05, 07:00 PM	This is a common problem that pops up. It tends to pop up more the more "tactically oriented" the game becomes. Fortunately, it's fixable. Talk to the other players and your DM. See if everyone else is as frustrated with the situation as you are. If not, there are still a few things you can do, but it's a lot harder. If so, there are plenty of options to restore the roleplaying to your tactical gaming. If the group as a whole is fine with the way things are, you need to lead the way. This is the lowest maintenance solution, but it can be one of the most effective. For example, rather than saying "Kurzan goes and wacks on that little goblin over there" try this instead: "I unlimber my axe and advance on the small goblin, 'Die villain!' I shout!" (roll dice...call result to DM, who says "hit" or "miss" - DM's job is to say "your axe bites into the goblin, spraying his blood across the cave floor." If he doesn't, you should do it.) After a while, everyone will start calling out their actions. A creative DM trying to encourage this might even bump damage up a point or two for a vivid enough description of the wound. The DM has more control over this than any player, so if you can get him on your side, the tenor of the game will change. Try describing things "in character" and explaining the rules involved with "asides" to the DM. Eventually, everyone will start to associate "I swing my waraxe with all my might" with Power Attack, and the asides will be less necessary. One thing that can help is to try a rules-lite version of D&D for a session or two. Specifically, you forget all about tactical positioning and movement related attacks of opportunity for a session and just PLAY! You might miss a few attacks of opportunity (you can still include the easy ones - backing out of combat, casting spells or using ranged weapons in melee or anything else that "distracts you"), but everyone will be having fun. Once you get used to that version, you can add tactical movement back in again. But everyone will be used to roleplaying sessions at that point, and they won't be likely to disappear. My two coppers.
dragonsbane1970 02-23-05, 03:00 AM	Ditto above - But I've found that alot of time the players are not "seeing" the game so are not "in" the game. At the beginning of every game I ask each player to describe something or someone in the beginning scene such as - Player 1 will describe the interior of the tavern including smell, condition etc./ Player 2 will describe the bard on stage including what he/she is singing / Player 3 will describe the bar wench and give a description of the food offered etc.... I will keep this going until I feel they are "seeing" and feeling the tavern or whatever and are "in" the game. It helps focus your players and stop out of game yapping.
dragonsbane1970 02-23-05, 03:03 AM	Something else that helped me focus my group was going through entire sessions with no combat at all. Basically forcing my players to role play every scene. They learned a great deal about their characters and loved it.